"Awful Experience top class consultants..."

I had my first baby at St Thomas Hospital in May 2011 and I have been left traumatized by the experience and the treatment received by the midwifes. I dont think I will be able to have more children. I suffered from preclamsia. Due to this I requested to have an C-Section to avoid an emergency C Section as I read it is a high possibility to have one , but they denied to do so . My labour was induced because when I could not feel the baby any longer they noticed I did not have any liquid in the womb, .........after begging for a scan. During my contractions my midwife never checked how dilated I was. I complained that the pain was increasing but the midwife decided without checking that they were practice contractions. My husband insisted that they were contractions but as well the midwife ignore him. I had to through my self on the bed and started shouting as my body wanted to push. The consultant came running after hearing me and checked how much I was dilated. She said I was 10 cm dilated and I was in Labour!!!! until this point the midwife had not have checked me or gave me any pain killers. I started pushing without any pain killer but the baby heart rate started to go. They took me to the theatre to do an emergency C-section. Then the baby's heart came back to normal and the consultant asked if I had strength to try for a natural birth. I did my best to push while they were getting ready for the C Section. Finally the baby was born after tearing myself and used forceps and had it without any pain relief I even felt how the consultant was stitching my teariness.

What could be improved

One thing I will never understand is that they kept asking when I had broken waters when the reason of inducing my labour was that I did not have any water. How can I break water without water? they never read the notes? I had to keep saying I did not have water !The day after the consultant said that my efforts avoided the C-Section and that many women wouldn't have last as much as I did.In my notes I put I did not want any student to be present in my treatment . When I was in the theatre for the C - Section it was full of young students that didn't have a clue of what to do!! The consultant had to ask for two hands to help few times without a quick response!!!!!

The treatment I had from that Midwife was awful. We could not understand anything she said. I asked to have another midwife but they denied as there weren't enough people I felt she did not have any qualifications as she did not carry on any basic checks. The day after she treated me as she never saw me before as it was the first time she met me!!

In the postnatal ward the treatment was totally unprofessional . They never read the notes on the yellow book. I had to keep explaining the whole history constantly. They were rude and unkind

I think the consultant were very professional. I thank him for his efforts to save my baby.... but on the other hand the midwifes were very unprofessional. Probably more training or a change of staff would be needed.

I know I have taken more than a year to write this review but I wanted to forget about it. As I couldn't forget it I decided to do it now . I hope this helps me.

I encourage any women to do so. I remember I shared the ward with other ladies that complained about the treatment received by the midwifes as well.

Responses

This feedback is most concerning and the maternity unit staff are very sorry that you had such a distressing and negative experience. If you would like to discuss this further with a member of the senior maternity team, please contact PALS on on 020 7188 8801 or by email pals@gstt.nhs.uk."